Full job description
FrameWorks is an action-oriented think tank for progressive movements.
We conduct cutting edge social science research to understand how to change the way people think, feel, and act and engage with partners who can mobilize this research to build power around progressive solutions.
We believe framing is critical to making cultural and systemic change. That’s why we’re building a unique, integrated team of multidisciplinary researchers and real-world changemakers.
This is an exciting time to join FrameWorks. And we want you to be a part of it.
About the position: Senior Research Operations Manager
We’re seeking an experienced project manager to join our team of social science researchers in conducting research to develop framing strategies to shift public discourse, influence culture and policy change, and build power around progressive movements and solutions.
The Senior Research Operations Manager will support the Research team that conducts rigorous mixed methods social science research on economic justice, health equity, children and families, criminal justice, and other projects related to social justice and racial equity. The position will help the Research team manage their day-to-day team operations, including project management and research recruitment, and help the team further develop and innovate team processes and systems. The position will manage important vendor relationships and coordinate with other units in FrameWorks to identify opportunities for streamlining activities and improving systems and processes.
The ideal candidate is someone who has strong project management, organizational, administrative, and communication skills; demonstrated experience in successfully supporting a team and coordinating across teams; is intellectually curious, creative, and innovative; and is committed to advancing inclusion and equity.
This is a full-time position based in Washington, D.C. with the possibility of remote work.
Salary: $75,000 or higher, depending on experience
Key responsibilities
- Creates, manages, and innovates standard operating systems and procedures for the Research team, including:
- Logistical aspects of research, including managing vendor relationship with recruiting firms
- Internal communications
- Agendas for regular meetings
- Document storage and retrieval
- Contract management, including negotiating with vendors and research contractors for the research team and managing those relationships
- Annual team budgeting, in consultation with team Directors.
- Monitors team capacity and timelines in collaboration with team Directors. This includes:
- Keeping track of research team staff workload in relevant project management systems
- Identifying upcoming staffing problems and bottlenecks and troubleshooting solutions with team Directors.
- Keeps all team projects updated and coordinated across project management systems, tracking staffing, timelines, and deliverables.
- Develops and maintains updated forecasts of research team staff workload.
- Maintains an updated list of upcoming deliverables.
- Keeps track of proposals in development and procures feedback from team Directors about proposed timelines and capacity to do new work.
- Manages relationship with our recruiter on logistical details of research, including communicating about those details and ensuring accurate sampling quotas and parameters are met.
- Manages online recruitment and scheduling for some research methods, consistent with established quotas and parameters.
Skills needed
- Commitment to FrameWorks’ mission, including organizational commitments to equity, diversity, inclusion, and social justice
- Excellent project management and organizational skills with close attention to detail
- Outstanding interpersonal communication skills, both verbal and written
- Experience with project management software and ability to quickly master FrameWorks’ current systems
- Creative thinking and problem-solving skills
- Ability to work productively with vendors and research consultants
- Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative, multidisciplinary team
- Exceptional time-management skills
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced organization and get things done
- Strategic and practical judgment to move work forward; flexibility and ability to adapt to changing needs
Experience required
The ideal candidate will possess
- At least five years of combined education and experience in project management and/or administrative work, preferably in a social science research setting
- Demonstrated ability and experience in designing and improving operational systems.
- Experience in one or more of the following areas: knowledge management, contract management, scheduling, project budgeting.
- Proficiency with a wide range of software and database programs, including project management software
- Experience in partner and vendor management
- Experience in building collaborative partnerships with staff throughout the organization
- Experience working as part of a communications team or partnership team a plus
- Interest in social science research
- Exceptional attention to detail
- Sound judgment and decision-making skills
- Excellent communication skills
- Creative thinking and problem-solving skills
- Strong collaboration and team-building skills
- Demonstrated ability to integrate principles of equity, justice, and inclusion into daily work
- Excellent interpersonal skills as demonstrated in interactions with staff, vendors, partners, and other key stakeholders
Highly desirable qualifications
- Experience conducting, coordinating and/or otherwise supporting social science research
- Experience handling research recruitment (scheduling, working with recruiters, handling payment of incentives, etc.)
- Familiarity with research ethics (e.g., IRB approval processes)
To apply
Please submit the following materials to jobs@frameworksinstitute.org, using the subject header line Senior Research Operations Manager 2023:
- Resume or CV with complete employment history and educational background
- Cover letter explaining your interest in the position, its relevance to your career goals and past experience, as well as where and how equity and social justice fit into your professional and/or personal experiences
Review of all applications will begin immediately and continue until the search process concludes. Please check FrameWorks’ website (www.frameworksinstitute.org) to ensure that the position is still available before applying. No solicitations, please.
FrameWorks Institute is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Interested individuals who are BIPOC, women, persons with disabilities, and people who identify as LGBTQIA+ are strongly encouraged to apply.
About FrameWorks
The FrameWorks Institute is a nonprofit think tank that helps mission-driven organizations communicate in ways that build public will to support progressive change.
It applies rigorous social science methods to study how people understand social issues and develops evidence-based techniques for explaining those issues more effectively. Since 1999, it has conducted pioneering research on effectively communicating a wide variety of scientific and social issues, such as early childhood development, climate change and immigration.
In 2015, it was named one of nine organizations worldwide to receive the MacArthur Foundation’s Award for Creative and Effective Institutions. Learn more at www.frameworksinstitute.org.